LTG John W. Woodmansee Jr. (Ret.) entered flight school in 1957 as a second lieutenant and remained on flight status until he retired in 1989 as the Commanding General of V Corps. He is believed to be the first Army aviator to fly solo with night-vision goggles, doing this in 1963.

While serving in Vietnam in Huey gunships, Woodmansee was recommended by the Marines for the Navy Cross. On his second Vietnam tour, Woodmansee commanded the 7th Sqdn, 1st Cav in the Delta, the largest air cavalry squadron in Vietnam. During his two years of combat flying in Vietnam he logged more than 1,500 combat hours and was awarded the Silver Star, five Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Medal with valor device.

After serving as a White House Fellow for Secretaries of State Dean Rusk and William Rogers in the late 1960s, Woodmansee was assigned to U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command where he identified critical aviation organizational and material needs in Combat Developments. As the two-star DA DSCOPS Force Developer, he pushed these changes through the system. He commanded the 2nd Armored Division before being promoted to command of V Corps in Germany. After retiring from active duty, he served on the Defense Science Board, and continues to work critical aviation issues while serving on the Army Science Board.